**The deadline for objections to the current Planning Application has now passed.
Although planning officers will not consider further comments, it would be extremely helpful if you contact your local councillor and MP’s to make your views known.
Also please join the mailing list or Facebook group for details of how you can help.
See below for information about our main objections.
No change from the appeal: In 2003, the UCKG was refused permission for a change of use on the former Granada cinema by the Deputy Prime Minister. That decision can only be overturned if there is a “material” change in circumstances and there is not: Waltham Forest still has no cinema and, with no hope of development on the Arcade site in the short-to-medium term, no prospect of one either.
Loss of the cinema: Despite the limited community facilities proposed in the application, the UCKG’s plans will permanently deprive the 225,000 residents of Waltham Forest of their only cinema. Waltham Forest already has over 200 places of worship.
Listed status: According to Government planning guidelines, the first option for a Grade II* Listed building should be the purpose for which the building was designed, i.e. a cinema. The historical importance of the building, in a borough which was home to some of the first British film studios, and with its connections with Alfred Hitchcock – make the building unique. Its loss would deprive Waltham Forest of a major part of its heritage and potential tourism revenue.
Viability: The building is viable as a cinema. It did not close because of falling attendances; but because the UCKG bought it. The Managing Director of the Picturehouse chain has declared they are interested in the building and that it could be viable as a cinema again. Picturehouse is the largest and most successful independent cinema chain in the UK and runs successful cinemas in similar listed buildings and areas – for example, the Ritzy in Brixton.
Economic vitality of the area: A re-opened cinema would boost Walthamstow town centre’s night time economy. The UCKG’s plans will not. The Planning Inspector in the 2003 appeal visited the UCKG’s largest UK centre in Finsbury Park and said: “Nothing in the commercial life of that area appeared to benefit from the UCKG Helpcentre.”
Management of community facilities: The UCKG’s proposals contain no guarantee that the community facilities will be managed independently. The UCKG proposes to set up its own management organisation comprising of one councillor, two members of the public and an unspecified number of UCKG representatives. This could see “community” facilities unusable by most of the community.
Access to the main auditorium: The most renowned feature of the cinema is the main auditorium. Non-UCKG members would have almost no ability to enter this area, it would never be available for public hire. The UCKG state they will use it for special events and cite their use of the Finsbury Park Rainbow as an example. In the ten years the UCKG has owned the Rainbow, two films have been screened in its main auditorium.
Lack of consultation: The UCKG have failed to engage with the people of Walthamstow in preparing plans – their exhibition ran for two days some distance away from the cinema. Materials didn’t use the word “church” and just one reference to “services”. Feedback forms only gave space to comment on restoration plans and community facilities – not on the application to change use from a cinema. The UCKG then submitted the application during summer holidays, when many residents will be away.
Transport & parking: With four services a day, seven days a week, the scheme could massively worsen traffic and parking issues in an already busy area. The UCKG propose only to provide attendees information on public transport and encourage use of the Selbourne Walk car park – taking places intended for shoppers whose spending is essential to the local economy and who may go elsewhere if they are unable to park.
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